Foxtails may seem like harmless plant material, but they can severely threaten your pet’s health.
At Petroglyph Animal Hospital, our veterinarians near Rio Rancho have seen the dangers posed when our pets come in contact with foxtails. We want you to know what foxtails are, the risks these plants pose to our pets, and when to seek medical assistance.
What are foxtails?
Foxtails are spiked seed heads produced by grasses in many parts of the United States, including New Mexico. These seed clusters look like small, bushy tails, hence the name ‘foxtails.’ While they may look harmless, foxtails can actually be quite dangerous to pets.
Here are some common names for the types of grasses that produce foxtails:
● Cheatgrass
● Wild barley
● Foxtail barley
● Speargrass
● Brome grass
Why are foxtails dangerous to pets?
Foxtails have barbed edges that easily catch on to fur, skin, and clothing. Since dogs love to stick their heads close to the ground and enjoy running through bushes, foxtails can get caught in their ears, noses, eyes, between their toes, or anywhere on their bodies.
Once embedded in your pet’s fur or skin, they can cause serious problems.
Causing Irritation, Inflammation, and Infection
Do you wonder why your dog constantly shakes his head, sneezes, or licks his paws?
It could be a foxtail caught by an ear flap, inhaled during a walk, or stepped on and now caught between his toes. What makes foxtails dangerous is their tendency to migrate. Due to their barbed coating and our pets’ constant movement, foxtails work their way deeper and deeper into your pet’s skin once latched on. This causes inflammation and infection.
To make matters worse, you often can’t see them to pull them out!
When not removed and left untreated, foxtails can cause long draining tracts beneath the skin and abscesses, which are pockets of pus that form around the embedded plant material. These can be painful and require veterinary treatment.
Traveling Through the Body
In some cases, foxtails can travel past the layer of skin and into your pet’s body. Foxtails have been known to lodge in the lungs, brain, or other internal organs, causing respiratory distress, dangerous infections, and further organ damage.
Foxtails entering internal organs require surgery to remove the foreign material and repair injuries.
When To See a Veterinarian
If you suspect your pet has come into contact with foxtails, seeking veterinary care as soon as possible is essential. Here are some signs that your pet may have a foxtail embedded in their skin, nose, or ear:
● Limping or favoring a paw without visible foreign material stuck to the pad or between the toes
● Excessive licking or chewing at a particular area
● Swelling or inflammation around a specific area
● Frequent sneezing or coughing
● Discharge from the eyes, squinting, or redness
If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, it’s essential to contact our veterinarians near Rio Rancho immediately. They will be able to examine your pet and determine if a foxtail is the cause of their symptoms. Our clinic uses otoscopes and ophthalmoscopes while inspecting for a draining tract or abscess.
We may also need to perform internal imaging, such as X-ray or ultrasound, to locate the foxtail and determine the best course of treatment.
In some cases, foxtails can be removed with tweezers or forceps. Surgery may be necessary if the foxtail has become embedded in a sensitive area or has caused infection or other complications.
Our Veterinarians Near Rio Rancho Know the Signs of Foxtail Exposure
As a neighbor and community member, Petroglyph Animal Hospital is familiar with the dangers and symptoms of foxtail exposure in our area. Our comprehensive facility is open 7 days a week and has the tools and experience to identify and locate any foxtails afflicting your pets.
Contact our veterinarians near Rio Rancho today if you feel your pet has been exposed to foxtails.The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.